ARAG reports 63% rise in German labour‑law claims since 2021

German legal‑insurance provider ARAG SE says the number of labour‑law protection cases it handled grew by 63 % over the past five years. The 2025 total rose 11.1 % year‑on‑year and the first half of 2026 showed a further 9.8 % increase.

Termination‑protection lawsuits drove much of the surge, up 33 % in 2025 compared with the previous year. ARAG notes that the growth spans all income groups, with middle‑ and high‑earners joining those traditionally affected.

A highlighted case involved a steel‑worker who, after 25 years of service, successfully challenged a dismissal that was deemed socially unjustified. Overall, ARAG supported more than 765 000 legal‑protection cases in Germany in 2025, while disputes in housing and rent also rose sharply.

The trendmonitor underscores that employment disputes are becoming an existential issue for many workers, making legal protection an increasingly vital tool in Germany’s uncertain labour market.